"Congressman Dan Maffei" is in the house

Dan Maffei has arrived in the Grand Ballroom at the Holiday Inn and was just introduced as "Congressman Dan Maffei." He is taking the stage now.

Moments earlier, Assemblymen Bill Magnarelli and Al Stirpe, Assemblywoman Joan Christensen, and state Senator Dave Valesky were introduced as winners in their reelection campaigns. All got applause, but none louder when they each enthusiastically plugged Barack Obama. Valesky led the whole room, now easily 1000 strong, in chants of "WE DID IT!"

"I feel like I just took a long hot shower after 8 years of Republican rule," Stirpe said.